The recent rise in university-industry partnerships has stimulated an
important public policy debate regarding how these relationships affect
fundamental research. In this paper, we examine the antecedents and
consequences of policies to promote university-industry alliances. Although the
preliminary evidence appears to suggest that these partnerships have not had a
deleterious effect on the quantity and quality of basic research, some legitimate
concerns have been raised about these activities that require additional analysis.
We conclude that additional research is needed to provide a more accurate
assessment of the optimal level of commercialisation.

Version:

Postprint

Description:

Previously in the University eprints HAIRST pilot service at http://eprints.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/00000053/[Originally] November 2001. This version January 2002. Forthcoming in Oxford review of economic policy